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The chasm between the top and the bottom of the Highland League was there for all to see last Wednesday night (February 27) as league leaders Brora Rangers comfortably swept aside Fort William at Claggan Park, scoring 11 goals in the process.

At a floodlit Claggan Park, Fort William got off to the worst start imaginable, conceding two goals in the first four minutes. However, the Fort managed to steady the ship and were able to contain Brora for most of the remainder of the half. Considering the financial gulf between these two teams, the Fort were providing more of a match for Brora than the visitor’s had hoped.

Eighteen-year-old Liam Gilchrist who joined the 1st team from the ranks of U-17 players takes the ball from Brora goalscorer Colin Williamson. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos.

A sucker punch came on the stroke of half-time as with the last kick of the ball, Colin Williamson put the ball past

That late first half goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side as Brora ran way with the tie in the second half.

Two quick-fire brace goals after the break set the tone, and before the Fort had a chance to regroup they were seven goals down by the 67th minute. Four late goals rounded the scoring off for Brora who made the trip home north content with the three points and a boosted goal difference.

Fort manager Russell MacMorran said: ‘With Brora you’re looking at a top quality side, they’re top of the Highland League for a reason. The lads got caught with two early goals. Maybe with the whole occasion and thinking about opposition they got caught cold. But for the remaining 40 minutes of the half they battled well and made it difficult for Brora.’

MacMorran felt that the third goal, from the last kick of the first half, made it hard for his team, saying: ‘There’s a big difference between going in at half-time 2-0 rather than 3-0 down to Brora.’

Fort William, however, remain on -7 points in the league and have not been able to get back into positive figures following that points deduction earlier in the season for fielding an ineligible player.